Today’s Sports Betting Preview – By Rick Elliott

It could be a bad season for Premier League clubs whose name begins with the letter ‘S’. Stoke are already relegated and if West Brom continue to defy the odds Southampton and Swansea will be joining them in the Championship next season. Mark Hughes’ reputation as a manager will be damaged as he was in charge of Stoke earlier this season and after getting sacked was recruited by Southampton. Hughes could achieve the rare or possibly unique feat of managing two relegated teams in the same season. Southampton visit Swansea this evening in a match that has become virtually a relegation playoff because Huddersfield drew at a celebrating Manchester City. SOUTHAMPTON are Evens with William Hill for the drop.

Both sides are on 33 points but Southampton have a seven goals superior goal difference which is worth an extra point. However, that advantage is negated if Swansea win at home tonight when the stakes are massive at the Liberty Stadium. Another key factor is that Swansea’s last match is at home to Stoke while Southampton welcome the champions on the final day. Southampton have drawn 15 fixtures in the Premier League this season which is the most of the 20 teams but that outcome is not enough in this make-or-break fixture. However, in the back of the minds of the Swansea players know a DRAW is a great result and that outcome is 21/10 with Ladbrokes.

It’s that time of the year when the Flat is all about the Classics and the new jumps season is starting out. In about one month four of the five Flat races that matter most will have been run. It’s now the trials season for the Derby and Oaks and all roads lead to Epsom in the first week in June. There are six meetings today in Britain and Ireland and Roscommon is the most lucrative offering £89,000 in prize money. Fakenham stages a six race jumps card and the feature is the Norfolk National at 3.45. WASHED ASHORE has the form and ratings to prevail and the horse can be backed at 13/2 with bet365 to win this race today.